The night air of Abydos, especially out here away from the walls of the city, was what Danyel had called 'crisp.' Shau'ri halted, gathering her cloak more tightly about her. He had described to her how weather could be so cold, so 'crisp', that water turned hard and soft rain turned to flakes of white. She had believed him, but could not imagine such things, child of the desert that she was.

Her demon had seen them, though. Shau'ri had seen the memory. She could picture ground whiter than sand, hear the crunching sound of footfalls, feel the white rain sting her cheeks.

Against the black sky, the glittering stars looked as cold as specks of hard water, although Danyel had assured her that they were in truth as hot as the sun of Abydos. Shivering, Shau'ri turned her back to the brilliant cluster of specks marking the place she knew the monster Apophis to be, and sought out the star called Sol that lit Danyel's home world.

When morning came, Kasuf would have the chappa'ai uncovered. Danyel would come. If he lived, he would come.

Her hands covered her stomach. He would come, and he would see. What then?

~~~~
Before Lord God made the sea or the land
He held all the stars in the palm of His hand
And they ran through His fingers like grains of sand
And one little star fell alone

Lost in the Stars
Kurt Weill, 1949